“Around 75% of all car accidents are controlled by insurers through their call centres. They send policyholders' cars for repairs to "approved" garages that they, the insurers, have chosen to be on their networks. This enables insurers to dictate the level, quality and cost of service to be provided to their own customers.”

 

“Consumers might think that insurance company “approval” means that repair shops have the correct skills and equipment to undertake proper and safe repairs. While it is true that repairers have to get the right tick in the box before selection, little of that information pertains to their technical skills and equipment. This is simply not good enough in a world where cars and repair equipment are becoming ever more complex.”